Category: CANA News

The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) says while it supports growth in technology and investment, this should not be at the expense of transparency as the debate continues here over the move by the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to acquire Speednet – SMART.

BTL says it is offering BDZ$80 million (One Belize dollar=US$0.49 cents) with BDZ$10 million being paid in cash and the balance being paid in the form of loan notes which are for a four year term and carry interest at a rate of 4.5 per cent per annum.

Speednet, is a Belizean communications company, established in 2003 and providing mostly deals with cellular services under the brand name ‘SMART’ and other landline services.

UDP and Opposition Leader, Tracy Panton outlined her party’s concerns telling reporters that the positions are non-negotiable.

‘Here are the UDP’s non-negotiable demands, public disclosure on the independent assessments and evaluations that have been complied to justify this deal must be made public.

‘There must be full transparency on financing sources and public exposure. Parliamentary consideration and debate must be had before the process is allowed to proceed any further. There must be binding consume protection on pricing and service quality. There must be binding worker protection and disclosure on labor impact. There must be the establishment of clear competition and merger control rules,’ she said.

‘Let me be clear, the UDP is not anti- technology, not anti-investment. We are however firmly oppose to secrecy. We do not accept monopolies without proper consultation and consent,’ she said.

The UDP insists that it is not closing the door on a telecom monopoly, bit is making it quite clear that their list of non-negotiables must come first before any deal is signed.

On Monday, Panton led a delegation that held talks with Lord Michael Ashcroft, laying out its position on the proposed sale. Ashcroft’s Waterloo Group Charitable Trust owns 70 per cent of Speed-net SMART.

‘Indeed, I met with Mr. Ashcroft to make it clear to him what the position of this party is. We cannot continue to support any kind of public acquisition that will affect materially the public interest. That is our stand.

‘We cannot support a monopoly. And you want me to say there will be absolutely no monopoly. Well, there should be absolutely no monopoly in electricity. There should be absolutely no monopoly in water if that is the stance we are going to take.’

Panton said that in democratic countries, especially in Belize ‘there is room for monopolies because we have a small market to serve, that is why there is only one electricity provider and that is why there is only one provider for water service’.

Last week, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) urged the government to address the sale of Speednet – SMART, warning that the acquisition represents ‘a matter of profound national significance’.

‘This transaction would fundamentally reshape Belize’s telecommunication’s landscape, with lasting implications for consumer welfare, business competitiveness, the stewardship of public funds and the overall health of our digital economy,’ the BCC said in a statement.

Four independent members of the Senate also called for an immediate pause on any decisions related to the sale.

In a joint statement, the legislators said they support calls from the BCCI and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize for full disclosure before any acquisition of commercial assets is approved.

The main opposition New National Party (NNP) has reiterated a call for the Grenada government to act urgently after the United States imposed a ban on all fish and fish products from the Caribbean island as of January 1, this year.

The measure follows Grenada’s failure to provide a ‘comparability finding’ showing its fishing operations do not intentionally kill or seriously injure marine mammals, as required by the he US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Late last year, the Dickon Mitchell government had indicated that it would amend the existing fishing legislation, increasing also the penalty as the island sought to comply with measures outlined by Washington.

In August last year, the US announced it would ban fish imports from the island starting January 1, 2026, a major blow to Grenada’s economy, given that the US has been the primary export destination for its fish, particularly yellow fin tuna, a trade worth over EC$50 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) annually and supporting thousands of livelihoods.

In a statement, the NNP warned that ‘delayed responses including the late passing of a legislation and limited engagement are deepening hardship for families and threatening wider economic stability’.

It said that it held meetings with fishermen and other stakeholders bringing ‘party leaders face to face with fishermen whose livelihoods have been disrupted and families struggling with uncertainty’.

NNP political leader, Emmalin Pierre, said the situation reflects a broader failure of communication and crisis management.

‘Fishing supports thousands of families, feeds communities, and contributes millions to the national economy. This is a national issue that demands coordinated and urgent government action. Late, long-term legislation alone is not enough,’ said Pierre, who is also the Opposition Leader in the Parliament.

NNP legislator, Norland Cox, whose constituency includes many of the communities most directly affected, spoke of the real and immediate hardship facing fishermen in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

‘These are hardworking men and women who want to work. What they need is clear communication, interim support, and realistic options while longer-term solutions are pursued. Too many families are being asked to carry this burden alone,’ Cox said in the absence of alternative markets.

The NNP said that instead of prioritising support and solutions, the Dickon Mitchell government has focused on defending its record and attacking those advocating for fishermen, while critical questions remain unanswered.

‘The NNP will continue to engage affected communities and call for decisive action that protects livelihoods, sustains coastal economies, and safeguards Grenada’s food security and economic stability.’

Shawnisha Hector scored a half century and took two crucial wickets to lead Leeward Islands Women to an exciting nine-wicket win over Jamaica Women in the T20 Blaze here on Tuesday.

Batting at the top of the order, Hector anchored her team’s innings during a knock of 56 off 55 balls with six fours, which helped the Leewards post 108 for five off their 20 overs at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Hector then returned to grab 2-15 from her four overs to limit last year’s losing finalists to 99 for eight.

The Leeward Islands got off to the worst possible start with Qiana Joseph unlucky to be caught and bowled off the first ball of the match after her on drive ricocheted off the boot of Neisha-Ann Waisome and into the air to give the bowler the easiest of catches. Hector added 35 runs with Jahzara Claxton, before the latter and Reniece Boyce fell in quick succession.

She then put on 48 runs with Amanda Edwards, who made 20, for the fourth wicket, which helped take her side to the 100 mark.

Hector was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over and the Leeward Islands limped to the finish, scoring eight runs off the final 10 balls.

Chedean Nation took 2-15 to be Jamaica’s best bowler.

Buoyed by an unbeaten 48 from Nation, Jamaica was comfortably placed at 60 for two in the 12th over during a 40-run partnership with Stafanie Taylor.

However, the turning point of the match came when off spinner Davronique Maynard had Taylor caught for 25.

It led to a collapse that saw Jamaica lose six wickets for just 23 runs and control of the contest, as they slumped to 83 for eight in the 18th over.

Nation led a comeback effort in an unbroken partnership of 19 runs for the ninth wicket with Celina Whyte, but Jamaica fell agonisingly short of their modest target.

Maynard (2-19) and Claxton (2-26) both provided solid support with the ball.

Police Tuesday said they are investigating the suspected suspected murder-suicide of two employees of a guest house in the capital.

They have identified the victims as 31 year old housekeeper, whose only name given so far is Loriann and Cyril Saul, a 36-year-old security guard.

‘Preliminary enquiries revealed that both individuals were employed at the said guest house and were the only staff members on duty during the overnight period. Investigations further disclosed that the two were previously involved in an intimate relationship which reportedly ended approximately two months ago,’ the police said in a statement.

It said that the police had responded to a call and discovered the female lying motionless in one of the rooms with visible injuries, while the male was found unresponsive in a separate room. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor on duty from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

The police said that several items, including a firearm, ammunition, a knife and a quantity of ‘a suspected substance’ were recovered at the scene and secured for forensic examination. ‘CCTV footage from the premises was reviewed and is forming part of the ongoing investigation. Several persons have since been contacted and questioned,’ the police statement added.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Energy Minister, Melford Nicholas, has been elected as Vice President of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) representing Latin America and the Caribbean.

His election took place at the 16th session of the IRENA Assembly Bureau that ended here on Monday with Nicholas already holding talks with IRENA Director General, Francesco La Camera, on Antigua and Barbuda’s priorities and practical pathways for accelerating implementation across Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including investment mobilization and partnership delivery. Nicholas had told the two-day Assembly that Antigua and Barbuda’s key priorities for a resilient and affordable renewable energy transition include reducing vulnerability to volatile fossil-fuel imports, noting that fuel and related costs account for an estimated 67 per cent of utility earnings.

He said accelerating deployment of solar and wind, supported by phased and hybrid approaches that enable a just transition and manage system risks as well as strengthening and climate-proofing the grid and energy infrastructure against hurricanes and other climate impacts were other priorities.

The Assembly was overshadowed by the decision of the United States to withdraw from IRENA and 65 other international organisations, many of them UN-affiliated bodies and Nicholas enphsised the need for reinforcing regional cooperation through institutions such as the Barbados-based Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) to support pooled procurement, training and financing.

Energy and Energy Industries Minister, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, has welcomed the ruling of a High Court that dismissed a defamation claim brought by two investment entities and their principal.

Justice Frank Seepersad, in dismissing the claim by Trillions Systems Ltd, Rose Capital Investments Ltd and businessman James Kerron Rose, was also critical of the claimants’ failure to comply with court orders and to actively pursue the matter. ‘This matter has come up on a few occasions,’ Justice Seepersad said, noting that directions had been issued on July 16, 2025, for specific procedural steps to be taken, including the filing of a reply and lists of documents.

‘I have no information whether a reply was filed. A list of documents were to be filed and there was no compliance,’ the judge said, adding that six months had passed with no meaningful progress.

‘What concerns me is the court’s jurisdiction having been invoked and there seems to be no interest from the claimant. With the order just granted, there is clear indication that there is a lack of instructions as to the progress of this matter.’

The defamation suit arose from statements made by Moonilal during a September 8, 2024, press briefing streamed on the then opposition United National Congress’s (UNC) Facebook page and shared on his personal social media accounts.

Rose and the companies alleged Moonilal had falsely and maliciously linked them to illegal quarrying, questionable state contracts and other financial improprieties.

They claimed the statements caused reputational harm, business losses and emotional distress, and complained that Moonilal allowed the posts to remain online without verification, correction or apology. Moonilal denied wrongdoing and maintained that his statements were made in the public interest.

He noted that Rose and his company had been the subject of widespread public controversy involving investors. referring to media investigations and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which confirmed that it had launched an investigation into the company. He called for swift action by the authorities and questioned the status of that probe, for what he described as the ‘pain and suffering of people’ who have lost their money.

‘Today, however, aggrieved citizens are claiming fraud and deception because they have not been able to get back any money,’ Moonilal said. ‘They have lost their personal savings.’

Moonilal said the court’s decision clearly vindicated his position and the issues he raised – including allegations of illegal quarrying and other activities – were serious matters of public interest that warranted investigation.

He pledged to continue speaking out against injustice and wrongdoing, ‘regardless of the consequences.’.

Attorney Jared Jagroo, who appeared with former attorney general, Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan for Moonilal, told the court there had been no communication from the claimants since the matter was filed and that the claimants had not appeared in court.

Justice Seepersad said that parties who invoke the court’s jurisdiction have a duty to advance their cases.

‘The claimant has failed to comply with orders of the court and even attend court to provide any explanation. Delay will not be tolerated by this court. The court must jealously guard its process.’

The judge dismissed the claim and ordered the claimants to pay costs in default of agreement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday urged Caribbean governments to significantly strengthen taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages amid concerns that these products are getting cheaper, due to consistently low tax rates in most countries.

The WHO said that as a result, it is fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, especially in children and young adults. In two new global reports released Tuesday, the WHO is warning that weak tax systems are allowing harmful products to remain cheap while health systems face mounting financial pressure from preventable noncommunicable diseases and injuries.

‘Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease,’ said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

‘By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services.’

The WHO said the combined global market for sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages generates billions of dollars in profit, fueling widespread consumption and corporate profit. Yet governments capture only a relatively small share of this value through health-motivated taxes, leaving societies to bear the long-term health and economic costs.

The reports show that at least 116 countries tax sugary drinks, many of which are sodas. But many other high-sugar products, such as 100 per cent fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, escape taxation.

The WHO said that while 97 per cent of countries tax energy drinks, this figure has not changed since the last global report in 2023.

A separate WHO report shows that at least 167 countries levy taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 ban alcohol entirely.

Despite this, alcohol has become more affordable or remained unchanged in price in most countries since 2022, as taxes fail to keep pace with inflation and income growth. Wine remains untaxed in at least 25 countries, mostly in Europe, despite clear health risks.

‘More affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries and disease,’ warned Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, noting that ‘while industry profits, the public often carries the health consequences and society the economic costs’.

The WHO found that across regions tax shares on alcohol remain low with global excise share medians of 14 per cent for beer and 22.5 per cent for spirits; sugary drink taxes are weak and poorly targeted with the median tax accounting for only about two per cent of the price of a common sugary soda and often applying only to a subset of beverages, missing large parts of the market.

The report found that few countries adjust taxes for inflation, allowing health-harming products to become steadily more affordable.

These trends in tax persist despite a 2022 Gallup Poll finding that the majority of people surveyed supported higher taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages.

‘WHO is calling on countries to raise and redesign taxes as part of its new 3 by 35 initiative, which aims to increase the real prices of three products, tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks, by 2035 making them less affordable over time to help protect people’s health.’

Proman Trinidad says it will temporarily suspend operations at its melamine plant in Point Lisas in central Triniddad for an initial two-year period, citing continued unfavourable global market conditions.

‘We do not take these decisions lightly. Proman has been a key contributor to the Trinidad and Tobago energy sector for over 35 years, and we will continue to invest in our operations, our people, and our local communities. This decision does not affect the production or operations of our other plants in Trinidad,’ said Proman Trinidad’s executive director, Anand Ragbir. Headquartered in Switzerland, Proman is a multi-asset, multi-regional diversified energy producer with methanol and fertilizer production facilities in Trinidad and Tobago, the United States and Oman and currently expanding into Mexico.

Melamine is a chemical used to make many products, including heat-resistant plastics and dinnerware and Proman Trinidad, which describes itself as the leading integrated petrochemical company here, said that the decision follows a detailed review of international market dynamics and is intended to safeguard the long-term sustainability and efficiency of its operations in Trinidad and Tobago.

‘The pause in production comes after the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the United States imposed significant anti-dumping and countervailing duties in January 2025 of 154.28 per cent on melamine exports from Trinidad and Tobago and other countries into the United States. These duties, combined with ongoing global price pressures, have made the continued production of melamine economically unviable at this time.’

Proman said its top priority during the transition is supporting its employees and that the vast majority of the 89 potentially impacted employees will be redeployed to other plants, projects, and roles across Proman’s operations, with access to training and resources to ensure a smooth transition.

It said that for the small number that the company cannot find redeployment roles for, Proman will provide full outplacement support, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and statutory benefits, ensuring that all employees are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect.

Looking ahead, Proman Trinidad said it will continue to monitor market conditions and evaluate the feasibility of resuming melamine production should circumstances change.

‘The company remains focused on strengthening its core operations and ensuring long-term competitiveness.’

Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper that the decision reflects difficult market conditions affecting the global melamine trade.

‘It is clear that this is an issue arising from challenging market circumstances. I am aware that Proman has been seeking alternative markets for melamine, but the global environment is extremely difficult. In the short term, the company has taken a decision to pause production,’ Moonilal said.

CRICKET-T20 BLAZE-RESULT Guyana Women defeat Windward Islands Women by seven runs – 1st match

The Leeward Islands Women defeated Jamaica Women by nine runs in the second match of the T20 Blaze here at Arnos Vale on Tuesday.

Scores

LEEWARD ISLANDS WOMEN 108-5 in 20 overs (Shawnisha Hector 56, Amanda Edwards 20; Chedean Nation 2-15).

JAMAICA WOMEN 99-8 in 20 overs (Chedean Nation 48 not out, Stafanie Taylor 25; Shawnisha Hector 2-15, Davronique Maynard 2-19, Jahzara Claxton 2-26).